Patricia Jean Knutson

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Knutson, Patricia Jean Pagenkopf

 Age 91, of Maple Grove, passed away peacefully and went home to the Lord on August 12, 2024. She is preceded in death by her loving husband of 68 years, Edward “Jack” Knutson, her parents, Carl and Lillian Pagenkopf, and siblings, Marvin, Harriet, Harold, Ruth and Donald. 

 Jean was born and delivered by her father on January 22, 1933, on the family farm in Waldorf, MN during a snowstorm. She was the youngest of six children and had a wonderful childhood. She talked fondly about her life on the farm and wanted to spend “one more day in that kitchen”. Her mother was a wonderful seamstress and sewed all of her clothes. It wasn’t until her father’s death, when she was only 11, that she wore her first store bought dress to his funeral. After his passing, her mother and older sister, Ruth, moved to Duluth to be closer to her oldest brother, Marvin. Jean was very close to her two sisters, and they were often called the “ding-a-ling sisters” as they would giggle, play cards, and have fun together throughout their long lives. 

 After arriving in Duluth, Jean met a group of girlfriends, who would become friends for life, some for over 80 years. She played the clarinet in the marching band and had fun with her new best friends. Jean graduated from Central HS in 1950, but while she was in high school, she met Jack Knutson at a football game. Since she was only 15, she was told by her sister and mother that she was too young to date. Jack and Jean crossed paths again two years later and started dating. On their first date after Jack dropped her off, he turned around and walked down her entire concrete staircase on his hands, and she was hooked! At the age of 20, she married the love of her life on August 8, 1953. Their first son, Jeff, was born 11 months later while they lived in Hoyt Lakes, MN in a trailer that was only 200 sq. feet. They looked back on those days with nothing but fond memories. They moved into their first house in Hoyt Lakes and welcomed their second son, Jerry and daughter, Jennifer.

 In 1963 they moved to Ohio briefly before moving back to Minnesota and settling in Crystal, MN where they welcomed their fourth child, Julie. The neighborhood in Crystal was famous for their classic parties filled with costumes, casino nights, anniversary parties, steak fries, presidential voting parties, bridge groups, and so much more fun. They raised their four children there until 2000, when they built a townhome in Maple Grove for their retirement years.

 Jean was the ultimate mom, baking, cooking, gardening, keeping the kids calendars, cleaning and organizing everyone. She helped create a loving and wonderful childhood for her children. She was proud of the family photo albums that she put together. Well over 10,000 photos in neat books that were numbered and labeled, which is a treasure for the family for years to come. She was involved in church, bridge and golf groups and always found some time for her wonderful friends. She got her driver’s license at the age of 35 and started off in a 1966 Ford Mustang. Once her youngest was in junior high school, Jean went back into the workforce and worked as a personal secretary at Energy Control Consultants, where she met Bahman Hoveida. Mr. Hoveida soon started Open Systems International, OSI, and Jean left ECC to work as Mr. Hoveida’s personal secretary for 20 years. It was a job she took seriously and she relished in. Upon her retirement, she was gifted a wonderful trip from OSI to the Mediterranean Sea aboard the Queen Elizabeth II, with Jack. It was the start of some wonderful retirement years for them both.

 Jack and Jean began annual trips to Florida for several months every winter. Starting in Ocala, FL, and eventually ending at Fort Walton Beach, FL. “The Islander” friends at Fort Walton Beach became a second family to them. They enjoyed over 25 years with their new friends and golf buddies, and enjoyed their Minnesota family coming down for visits. Jean got more serious with golfing and mastered the art of putting! She even got a hole in one with her ladies golf group! Jean and Jack loved joke night in Florida and she would sometimes join him on “stage” to sing some standard hits. 

 Jean taught everyone through example that life was about family, friends and loved ones. 

Jean is survived by her children, Jeffrey (Patty) Knutson, Jerald (Laurie) Knutson, Jennifer (Jan Mohrfeld) Lenhart, and Julie (Ken) Lambert, along with grandchildren Tamara Knutson, Jack Knutson, Anna Knutson, Joe (Nikki) Lenhart, Sam Lenhart, Mitch (Mady) Lambert, Ava Lambert and Kurt Lambert, along with great grandson, Liam Lenhart.

 She is also survived by Jack’s sister, Janet Conley and Jack’s brother, Gary Knutson, along with many nieces and nephews. The family wishes to thank the staff at Orchards of Minnetonka for their outpouring of service and care for Jean over the past two years. A special thank you to Barb, Tee, Madison, Wilfred and so many other staff at The Orchards for their compassionate care. Heartfelt thanks also to the medical staff at J.A. Wedum Residential Hospice who provided excellent care and a peaceful environment during her transition to her next life.

 Her celebration of life will be a private family service. Memorials preferred to J.A. Wedum Residential Hospice C/O Allina Health Foundation, 2925 Chicago Avenue S., Mail Route 10721, Minneapolis, MN 55407 ATTN: Wedum Compassion Fund